Knotter



C. LEA.

KNOTTER.

APPLICATION HLED NOV- 2, 1-91 I.

1,354,668, Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

J DA w P. j n' 26 4 T-mams minesses: Cilnajgngar; 4

war 5 ea CHARLES LEA, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, [E0 BARBER-COLMAN COMPANY, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATIUN 0F rumors.

KNOTTER.

Application filed November 2, 1911;

To all whom it may con-0cm:

Be it known that I, CHARLES LEA, a citi- Zen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, (whose post-olfice address is 195 Freeport'street, Dorchester, Massachusetts,) have invented an Improvement in Knotters, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on, the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to knotters, being intended to provide a relatively simple form of implement by means of which knots can be rapidly and effectively tied. The embodiment of my invention herein shown is intended more particularly for tying spoolers knots in textile mills, but the invention may be applied to other uses than the one herein disclosed, as well as'embodied in other forms of implements intended for the same use.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will'be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a knotter embodying one form of the invention, showing the manner in which it is held and manipulated, and showing the position of the parts after the coil has been formed;

Fig, 2 is an end view of the knotter shown in Fig. v1';

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly broken away and in partial section on a somewhat larger scale showing the parts in a second or intermediate position;

Fig. 4 is a sim1lar view in their final the knot;

Fig. 5 is a detail end view showing the threads and the holding hook ina position correspondingxo Fig. 4 just as the end has been severed showing the parts position just prior to stripping Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the knot as it is being stripped;

Fig. '2' is a section taken through the barrel showing the split forming end or nose, the thread-engaging hook contained therein, and its operating plunger; and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @ct. 5, 192%. Serial No. 658,104;

Fig. 8 shows the other half of the split forming end.

Referring to the drawings and to the illustrative embodiment of my; invention therein shown, the knotter includes a barrel or body portion 1 the midportion of which is fastened to the collar 2, as by means of a set screw, the collar being secured to any suitable member whereby it may be held by or fastened to the hand of the operator such as the bracket 3 having two loops3 3" by which the knotter is adapted to be carried upon the index and middle finger of the hand. This may be the right hand or left hand,.the knotter being herein shown as applied to the right hand, merely for illustrative purposes.

ceeding strand. Its formation is also such that after seizing the strand to be crossed and crossing the same it draws it into the slotted end of the nose whereit severe the strand and holds the severed end errnitting the coil to he slipped over the hel the thus knotted end tobe stripped from the tip of the coil-forming nose.-

As shown more fully in Figs. 7 and 8, the slot which contains the strand engaging member is provided by splitting the forming end of the barrel, the part 6 (see Fig. 8) being cut back at 7 7) to receive'the strand-engaging mem er 5 and provide split nose portions 4 and 4". The latter is pivoted for reciprocating movement upon a pin 8 fixed in the recess 7; but has a slot 9 in which works a pin 10 secured to. the axial plunger 11, the latter extending back through the barrel. The plunger its rear end is forked to receive the bell crank lever 12 pivoted 13, one arm of the lever having the double-acting cam slot 14in which works transverse pin 15 carried by the d end and strand guide 21 forked end of the plunger 11. The other arm 16 of the lever is arranged for suitable manual operation, being herein shaped and located to be pressed by the thumb of the operators hand which holds the knotter. The lever is normally thrown to the position shown in Fig. 1 by the spring 17, the latterbeing coiled about the pivot 13 and having one end bearing against the lever 16 and the other endseated against the side of the barrel. The spring permits the lever to be moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, which movement is accompanied by a complete reciprocation of the strand-engaging member 5, that is to say, for a half stroke of the thumb lever the member 5 first moves back to the position shown in Fig. 3 and then again forward to the position shown in Fig. 4:.

When the strand engaging member has been placed in position upon the pins 8 and 10, the removable section 6 may be placed over the same, the pin 8 serving as a dowel pin to position the section 6. The latter is then fixed in position by slipping over the end of the nose the removable collar 18, such collar being pushed to a seat against a shoulder. 19 and held in place by a set screw. The beveled edge of the collar is slotted at 20 to permit the full throw of the reciprocatory member 5.

In order to hold the initial strand of the formed coil within the path of the strandengaging member 5, strand-guiding means are employed. These may consist of any suitable guiding devices, but herein this function is performed by the hook-shaped which is held fixed with reference to the nose and slightly at one side of the slot therein. Herein the guide is fixed upon the collar 18 by means of the set screw 22 which latter, however, passes through a slot in the thread guide so that the guide may be adjusted to different positions.

As the coil is formedit may be held back by any suitable means which may either be a part of, or independent of the member Herein such coil-holding means is provided by the detent or hook 23 formed on the member 5and which in the normal position of the parts, as shown 'in Fig. 1, projects from the nose through the slot at the side opposite the thread guide 21.

To effect acrossing of the initially wound strand, or the strand which is first applied to the forming end in the formation of the coil, .over the succeeding strand'the tip of the member 5 is formed into the strand crossing hook 24 immediately back of which.

is provided the notch 25 for holding back the succeeding strand while the hook 24 is drawing the initial strand across the same. One edge 26 of the hook on the side adjacent the thread guide is sharpened so that in conjunction with the cooperating edge of the nose it forms a shearing device. The opposite edge of the jaw and the corresponding edge of the nose are blunt and somewhatbeveled so as to pinch a strand drawn between these edges without cutting the same. Spoolers knots are used to unite two threads while the latter are held side by side. The description of the tying of such a knot will serve to show the manner in which the illustrated embodiment of the invention is used. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is applicable to the tying of a knot in one or any number of strands and whether the latter consist of thread, yarn, wire or any other flexible filaments.

In the operation of uniting two threads with the described form-of implement, the latter is held in either hand as represented in Fig. 1. If this be the right hand, as shown, the free ends of the two threads to be united are grasped by the fingers of the hand holding the knotter, this being merely to anchor or tension the ends. The two threads held in the remaining hand are then wrapped about the forming end, the oncoming or initial strand-of the coil being first laid in the hooked end of the thread guide 21. I

The thread guide, as shown in Fig. 2, being offset toward the side from which the thread is wound on the end, the initial strand of the coil is drawn down across the path through which the thread engaging hook 24 passes when it emerges from the slot. The side of the thread-forming nose from which the hook 24 emerges is slightly grooved under the thread guide at 6 so that when the operator wraps the thread about the same, the initial strand passes diagonally from the guide to the side of the forming end,-but the succeeding strand of the coil tends to settle into the groove.

As the strands are wrapped about the forming end, the hook 23 projects at such a point and angle that the operator naturally lays the thread back of the hook and the coil is thereby prevented from slipping off from the end until after the hook has been withdrawn.

Having wrapped on the coil by giving the threads one turn about the nose, the thumb lever is pressed, which throws the threadengaging member 5 from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 7 to that shown in Fig. 3. This withdraws the coil-retaining hook 23 within the nose-so that that side of the coil is free to slip toward the end, of the nose and, under the slight tension which the operator maintains upon the threads, slips out toward the position shown in Fig. 3.

As the thread hook 2%, however, emerges from the slot in the nose co-incident with the Withdrawal of the coil-holding hook 23 Ill therein, the threads constituting the second or outer strand of the coil slip into the slot and are held back by the neck of the hook 24, which latter passes back over and above the same. As the thread hook 24 passes over the outer strand it snaps past and under the first or initial strand of the coil which leads diagonally down from the thread guide 21 to the side of the forming nose, so that on its subsequent forward movement, which immediately follows, such initial strand is drawn down by the hook and carried into the slotted portion of the nose as represented in Figs. 4 and 5.

This results in severing the strand at the edge 26 of the hook on the thread-guide side thereof and at the same time in pinching the strand between the opposite edge of the hook and the edge of the slot so that a slight pull on the threads held in the free hand of the operator is required to free the pinched or held end. The result is that as the hook reenters the slot, the slotted portion 25 leaves the coil, whereby the coil isentirely freed so that the tension maintained by the operator on the threads draws the coil over the pinched and severed end and strips it off from the nose, thereby forming and tightening the knot as shown in Fig. 6.

In actual practice the thumb-actuated movement of the thread hook can be so timed with the wrapping of the threads about the forming end that the hook is moved to seize and cross the strand, sever it and pinch it with no appreciable interval between the formation of thecoil and the stripping of the knot, the continued tension applied by the operator in wrapping the loop about the forming end being utilized in drawing and stripping the snnultaneously knotted threads.

It will be seen that the knotted ends are left in the free hand of the operator while the waste ends are left in the hand holding the implement. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the knot is tied without the introduction of the usual twist which is given the strands near the knotted ends. Such twist which accompanies the tying of two strands where the loop is formed, the strands crossed and the knot completed, all by the rotation of a tying bill, is often a serious objection resulting in forming a snarl.

In the illustrative embodiment of the in vention the implement is greatly simplified and its rapidity of operation in no material degree lessened in having the operator himself wrap the strand or strands about the forming end while the latter is held fixed in the hand, as well as in having the operator slip the loop over the crossed end to complete the knot by the manual draft on the held threads, all instead of forming the knot automatically although other means may be had both for'forming the coil and the knot.

While I have herein shown and described for purposes of illustration one specific form of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is not limited to the constructional details of the parts herein disclosed, but that extensive deviations may-be made from the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims.

1. In a knotter, the combination with a forming end upon which a coil may be formed from the inner toward the outer end thereof, a guide for the initial strand of the coil, means to convey the initial strand over and across the succeeding strand toward the end of the forming member after the formation of the coil, and means thereat to hold and sever the same permitting the coil to be stripped thereover.

2. In a knotter the combination with a coil-forming end of means to carry the ini- I tially wound strand of the coil over and across the next succeeding strand from the inner end toward the outer end of the forming end after'the formation of the coil, severing means to sever said crossed strand and holding means to hold the same in crossed position.

3. In a knotter, the combination with a coil forming end of means for holding the same in fixed position upon the hand of the operator, manually actuated means for conveying' the initially wound strand over and across the succeeding strand of the coil, and means for there holding the same.

4. In a knotter, the combination with a coil-forming end, movable strand-crossing means, and coil-retaining means for said end movable withsaid strand crossing means.

In a knotter, the combination with a coil-forming end, strand-crossing means adapted to move through a path on one side of said forming end, and means to retain thei coil at the opposite side of said forming en 6. In a knotter, the combination with a coil-forming end, of strand-crossing means adapted to move through a path at one side of said forming end, and means to retain the'coil at the opposite side of said forming end, said means comprising a coil retaining detent adaptedto be withdrawn into said forming end on, movement of said strandcrossing means.

7. In a knotter, the combination with a slotted coil-forming end, of a reciprocatory strand-engaging and strand-crossing hook movable lengthwise in the slot thereof, a strand guide, and means for reciprocating said hook.

8. In a knotter, the combination with a slotted coil forming end, of a reciprocatory strand engaging hook therein, a strand guide and means for reciprocating said hook, said hook having a shearing edge on one side and a holding edge on the opposite side to cooperate with the edges of the slotted forming end.

9. In a knotter the combination with a forming end, a strand engaging and crossing member, a barrel, means for holding the barrel upon the hand of the operator. with the forming end fixed, whereby the operator may form a coil thereon, a thumb lever at the opposite end, of the barrel, and a connection between the thumb lever and the strand engaging and crossing member.

10. In a knotter, the combination with a forming end, a reciprocatory strand engaging hook therein, a thumb lever at the opposite end of the knotter, an actuating member for the hook, said thumb lever having a double-acting cam slot for moving said actuating member.

11. In a knotter, the combination with a forming end of a strand engaging member, a manually actuated operating member, and means for effecting a complete reciprocation of the strand engaging member through-a half reciprocation of the manually operated member.

12. In a knotter, the combination with means adapted to be held in. one hand whereon the operator may wrap a strand with the remaining hand, of means, operable by the hand holding the implement, for crossing, severing and holding the strand while the operator with the remaining hand strips the formed knot over the held and severed end.

13. In a knotter, the combination with a forming end upon which a coil may be formed, of means for crossing, severing and holding a strand while the forming end remains fixed, to permit the formed knot to be stripped over the same.

14:. In a knotter, the combination with a coil-forming member about which a strand may be wrapped, means for engaging the initially wound inside strand of the coil after the formation of the latter and drawing the same toward the end of the forming member, andmeans for severing and holding it to permit the stripping of the coil thereover.

15. In a knotter, the combination with a coil-forming end of means outside the coil for seizing the initially wound strand on the inside thereof after the formation of the coil and conveying it toward the forming end, severin means and holding means permitting the Ioop to be stripped over the held severed end.

16. In a knotter, the combination with a beveled forming nose about which acoil may be wrapped, a hook reciprocatively mounted in said nose, a guide to hold a strand of said coil across the path of movement of said hook, and means for actuating said hook to cause the same to reach across the formed coil to seize said strand and carry the same across the coil and toward the end of the nose whereby the coil may he slipped over the'same to form the knot,

17. In a knotter, the combination with a tapered forming end about which a coil may be Wrapped, a reciprocatory strand engaging member in said end having a normally projecting coil retaining portion on one side thereof, a strand-engaging member adapted to be projected from the opposite side of said end outside of the formed coil to seize the strand and draw the same toward the forming end, means for guiding said' strand within the path of movement of the hook, and means for severing and holding the strand thus seized to permit the coil to be stripped over the same.

18. In a knotter, the combination with a slotted tapered forming nose about which a coil may be formed, a reciprocatory strand-engaging member movable in the slot, said member having a hook adapted to emerge from said slot outside of the formed coil and reach across the same to seize a strand, means for moving the hook to seize said strand and'draw the same across the coil toward the end of the nose, a guide to hold the initial strand of the coil across the path of the strand-enga ing hook, aretaining hook on said movable member to hold back the opposite side of the coil on the nose, said hook being withdrawn on movement of the strand-engaging hook, means to sever the seized strand, said means comprising a shearing edge on said hook cooperating with an edge of the slotted nose, and means to hold the severed strand to permit the coil to be slipped over the same comprising a pinching edge 'on the opposite side of the hook to cooperate with an edge of the beveled nose.

19. In a knotter, the combination with a coil-forming end adapted to beheld in one hand whereby the operator may wrap a strand about the same withtthe remaining hand, of means operable by the hand holding the implement for seizing the initial strand of the coil and crossing the same over remaining strand and simultaneously withdrawing the said coil-holding means.

21. In a knotter, the combination with a coil-forming end adapted to be held in the hand of the operator whereby the operator may wrap a strand about the said end with the remaining hand, and means for holding back the coil when formed, means operable by the hand holding the implement for crossing the initial strand of the coil and holding the same while withdrawing the coil-holding means to permit the stripping of the knot.

22. In a knotter, the combination with a coil-forming end adapted to be held in one hand whereby the operator may wrap a strand with the remaining hand, of a single member operable by the hand holding the implement for crossing, severing and holding the initial strand while the operator with the remaining hand strips the formed knot.

23. In a knotter, the combination with means adapted to be held in one hand whereon the operator may wrap a strand with the remaining hand, of a single member .operable by the hand holding the implement for holding back the coil when formed and crossing the initial strand of the coil for the formation of the knot, and means for holding the crossed strand.

24. In a knotter, the combination with a coil-forming end adapted to be held in fixed position by the hand of the operator whereon the operator may wrap a coil with his remaining hand, and a movable member acting to both cross the initial strand'of the coil 1and hold the same for the stripping of the (not.

- 25. In a knotter, the combination with a coil-forming end adapted to be held in fixed position bythe hand of the operator whereon the operator may wrap a coil with his remaining hand, a movable member acting to both cross the initial strand and to sever the same after the formation of the coil.

' 26. In a knotter, the combination with a coil-forming end about which a coil is adapted to be formed of a member movable within the coil forming end for crossing the initial strand of the coil.

27. In a knotter, the combination with a coilforming end about which a coil is adapted to be formed of a. member movable within the coil-forming end for crossing and holding the initial strand of the coil.

28. In a knotter, the combination with a coil-forming end about which a coil is adapted to be formed of a hooked member movable within the coil-forming end for crossing the initial strand of the coil.

29. In a knotter, the combination with a coil-forming end on which a coil may be formed, ,of means carried by said end for reaching from a position outside the coil across the outer strand of the coil and seizin the inner strand thereof to draw the same across the outer strand, actuating means therefor and means to hold the crossed strand.

30. In a knotter, the combination with a coil-forming end on which a coil may be formed, of means carried by said end for reaching from a position outside the coil across the outer strand of the coil and seizing the inner strand thereof to draw the same across the outer strand, actuating means therefor, and means to, hold the crossed strandA'while the coil is stripped thereover.

31. elongated body portion ing nose at one end, a strand-manipulating element in said nose, a thumb lever located at the opposite end of the body portion and opera tively connected-to said element, and a finger-engaging bracket secured to the body portion intermediate the ends of the latter.

32 A knotter having, in combination, an elongated body portion having a coil-forming nose at one end, a strand-manipulating element in said nose, a thumb lever located atthe opposite end of the body portion and operatively connected to said element, a finger-engaging bracket projecting in one direction from the midportion of the body, and a thread guide projecting in the opposite direction from thebody near the coilforming nose. 4

In testimony whereof I have name to this specification, two subscribing witnesses.

oHaRLEs LEA.

having a coil-formsigned my in the presence of Witnesses:

ROBERT H. KAMMLER, THOMAS B. BOOTH.

knotter having, in combination, an 

